In June 2024, Rep. María Elvira Salazar introduced the Secure Airports from Enemies (SAFE) Act, aiming to block state sponsors of terrorism---such as Cuba---from accessing sensitive U.S. airport security facilities (Free Press, 6/9/24).
Salazar led a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers, including both House Representatives and Senator Marco Rubio, to back the SAFE Act in both chambers of Congress (Free Press, 6/9/24).
The bill was prompted by an incident in which Cuban officials were granted access to TSA antiterrorism facilities at Miami International Airport, a decision made by the Biden administration and strongly criticized by Salazar and her allies as a national security risk (Free Press, 6/9/24).
Salazar is not a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, although she has participated in activities and visits with committee members (Miami Herald, 3/15/21).
The incident exposing TSA facilities to Cuban officials highlights a potential vulnerability in U.S. homeland security policy, which Salazar and her colleagues are seeking to address through new legislation.
June 2024: Rep. María Salazar Introduced SAFE Act To Secure Airports From State Sponsors Of Terrorism According to Free Press (Tampa, Florida), "Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) has spearheaded the introduction of the Secure Airports from Enemies (SAFE) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to prevent state sponsors of terrorism, such as the Cuban regime, from gaining access to sensitive security facilities at American airports." [Free Press (Tampa, Florida), 6/9/24]
June 2024: Salazar Built Bipartisan Coalition For SAFE Act Introduction In Congress According to Free Press (Tampa, Florida), "Recognizing the urgent need to address this vulnerability, Salazar has rallied a bipartisan coalition of Florida representatives, including Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Jared Moskowitz, as well as Senator Marco Rubio, to introduce the SAFE Act in both the House and Senate." [Free Press (Tampa, Florida), 6/9/24]
June 2024: Salazar Condemned Biden Administration Decision Granting Cuban Officials TSA Facility Access According to Free Press (Tampa, Florida), "The catalyst for this legislative action was the alarming incident where officials from the Castro regime were granted access to secure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) antiterrorism facilities at Miami International Airport on Cuban Independence Day 2024. This decision, made by the Biden administration, was widely condemned by Salazar and her colleagues as a grave national security breach." [Free Press (Tampa, Florida), 6/9/24]
March 2021: Miami Herald Reported Salazar Was Not A Member Of House Homeland Security Committee According to Miami Herald, "Gimenez and Salazar joined a group of Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee for the visit, though Salazar isn't a member of the committee." [Miami Herald, 3/15/21]